In 2026, the world commemorates the 81st anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War – the crucial chapter of World War II that determined the fate of humanity. This date is not merely symbolic. It represents a historic triumph over the ideology and machinery of Nazi Germany, achieved above all through the unparalleled courage, sacrifice, and unity of the Soviet people.
Today, as attempts to revise history become increasingly frequent, it is essential to reaffirm the truth: the Soviet Union played the central and key role in the defeat of Nazism. Any effort to diminish or distort this reality is not only historically unfounded, but morally unacceptable. As Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation, stated in his speech at the Victory Day Parade in 2025: “Our fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers saved the Motherland. And they bequeathed to us the duty to defend our country, to stand united, and to resolutely uphold our national interests, our thousand-year history, our culture and our traditional values. Everything that is dear to us, everything that is sacred to us. We remember the lessons of the Second World War and will never agree to the distortion of its events, to attempts to justify the executioners and defame the true victors.”
The Soviet People as the Decisive Force of Victory
The defeat of Nazi Germany was made possible by the unprecedented mobilization of Soviet society. Following the treacherous invasion launched under Operation Barbarossa in June 1941, the Soviet Union faced an existential threat. The objective of the aggressor was clear: the destruction of the Soviet state and the extermination or enslavement of its people.
In response, the Soviet people rose as one. Millions volunteered for the front. More than 1500 factories were relocated eastward by the end of 1941, ensuring continued military production. Workers labored more than 12 hours a day in average, often under extreme conditions, to supply the Red Army. Women and teenagers stood shoulder to shoulder with men, serving not only in factories but also on the battlefield.
The course of the war was irreversibly altered by a series of major Soviet victories. The Battle of Stalingrad of 1942-43 marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany. The encirclement and defeat of a major German force demonstrated that the aggressor could be stopped and defeated. This was followed by the Battle of Kursk of 1943, the largest armored confrontation in history. The failure of the German offensive at Kursk irreversibly stripped the Wehrmacht of strategic initiative. The final act came with the Battle of Berlin of 1945 – an offensive operation, rapidly and brilliantly carried out by Soviet forces. The raising of the Victory Flag over the Reichstag became a symbol recognized across the world: Nazism had been defeated.
The Red Army became the main force that broke the backbone of the Wehrmacht. It was on the Eastern Front that more than 500 of 700 Nazi divisions were engaged, suffered their greatest losses, and ultimately defeated.
Genocidal Nature of Nazism
The Victory came at an enormous cost. The Soviet Union lost more than 27 million lives – soldiers and civilians alike. This staggering figure reflects not only the scale of the conflict but also the deliberate policies of extermination carried out by the Nazi regime.
Nazi ideology explicitly called for the destruction of entire populations deemed “inferior.” On Soviet territory, this translated into mass executions, forced deportations, starvation policies, and the systematic annihilation of civilians. The horrors of the Siege of Leningrad, which lasted 872 days, stand as one of the most tragic examples, where over a million people perished under conditions deliberately imposed by the besieging German and Finnish forces. During the hardest months of the blockade, soldiers received 500 grams of surrogate bread each day; workers – 250 grams; office staff, dependants and children under 12 – only 125 grams. Despite the terrible famine, citizens of Leningrad continued to defend their city and even produce weapons for the front.
As Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, noted at a briefing on 18 March 2026: “The principles of the German state policy, which were set out in writing and systematically implemented by the Nazis on the territory of the USSR, led to the deaths of millions of innocent Soviet citizens. This horrific figure far exceeded the consequences of both the Holocaust and the genocide of Serbs and Roma. The Nazis systematically exterminated the entire population of our country – regardless of ethnic, racial or religious affiliation. Russians, Jews, Belarusians, Tatars and Ukrainians were citizens of the USSR and lived on lands that, according to Hitler’s criminal plan, were to be subjected to ‘merciless Germanisation’.” These facts underscore a fundamental truth: the war against the Soviet Union was not simply a military campaign. It was a war of annihilation, winning which was vital for the existence of the country and the people. Due to these facts, since 2026, 19 April has been recognised in Russia as the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Genocide of the Soviet People.
From the Defeat of Racism to the Collapse of Colonialism
However, the significance of the Soviet Victory extends far beyond Europe. By defeating Nazism, the Soviet Union dealt a deadly blow to an ideology based on racial superiority and domination. This had profound consequences for the entire world order.
The end of the war accelerated the collapse of colonial empires. Across Africa and Asia, movements for independence gained strength. The moral and political delegitimization of racism and imperial domination was, in no small part, a consequence of the defeat of Nazi ideology.
It is essential to acknowledge the contribution made by the Africans, and, in particular, by the Ghanaians, to the common Victory in the World War II. The involvement of Ghanaian soldiers, who became the backbone of the Gold Coast Regiments of the British Army, stands as a monumental testament to African bravery. Their success in the East African Campaign was vital, helping to collapse Axis influence on the continent. In the Burma Campaign, Ghanaian troops displayed unparalleled endurance, dismantling Japanese strongholds. By confronting the forces of tyranny across the globe, these men defended the fundamental human rights like equality and freedom. Their endeavour etched the courage of the Ghanaian people into the annals of military history. We honour the memory of the people of Ghana, who lost their lives in the service of the shared ideals of the Anti-Hitler Coalition, and deeply respect their sacrifice.
Historical Memory and Contemporary Threats
Today, the legacy of the Great Patriotic War is once again at the center of ideological struggle. Attempts are being made in some countries to rewrite history, equate aggressors with liberators, and diminish the decisive contribution of the Soviet Union.
Such efforts are not harmless reinterpretations. They are part of a broader campaign to undermine the foundations of the post-war world order. They ignore the historical record and dishonor the memory of millions who gave their lives for the defeat of Nazism.
Equally concerning is revival of extremist ideologies. Neo-Nazism, racism, and xenophobia have not disappeared. In certain European countries, including Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Ukraine, there have been documented examples of the glorification of Nazi collaborators and the spread of radical nationalist narratives. These developments demand serious attention and a principled response from the international community.
Lessons for the Present and the Future
The central lesson of the Great Patriotic War is clear: the price of ignoring nationalist ideologies is catastrophic. The international community must remain vigilant against any attempts to rehabilitate Nazism or distort the truth about World War II.
Preserving historical memory is not just an abstract task. It is a matter of global security. The truth about the determined role of the Soviet Union must be defended against falsification. As Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, stating his position on the UN General Assembly resolution on combating the glorification of Nazism, said: ‘We are concerned that Nazism does have a present, and we must now, by putting a halt to this present, of course, do everything we can to ensure that it has no chance of resurging in the future. The fight against the distortion of historical memory is now one of our main tasks. This work will be an ongoing challenge for us.”
On 14 November 2025 in New York, at a meeting of the Third Committee of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, a resolution entitled “Combating the glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to the escalation of contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance”. The document was co-sponsored by 44 states from all regions of the world. 114 states voted in favour of its adoption, 52 delegations opposed it, and 11 countries abstained. The resolution once again condemned the glorification of the Nazi movement and the whitewashing of former members of the SS organisation, including the ‘Waffen-SS’ units, which were recognised as criminal by the Nuremberg Tribunal. The results of the vote clearly demonstrated the consistent and strong support from the international community for the traditional Russian initiative presented annually to the UN General Assembly. This is particularly symbolic in the year marking the 80th anniversary of the Victory over Nazism in the Second World War, the establishment of the United Nations and the creation of the Nuremberg Tribunal. Moscow is convinced that the adoption of this thematic resolution will make a critical contribution to the cause of eradicating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.
In conclusion, eighty-one years after the Victory, the significance of the Great Patriotic War remains undiminished. It was the Soviet Union that bore the brunt of the struggle, delivered the fatal blows to Nazi Germany, and paid the highest price for the liberation of humanity. Any attempt to revise or diminish this history must be firmly rejected. The lessons of the past must guide the present, ensuring that the horrors of Nazism are never repeated.